The article says that Sunnis do not practice “temporary marriage”. I have heard that not to be accurate. Historical accounts of prophet Mohammad clearly suggest that he had at least 4 wives at the same time - this is “Polygamy “. In addition, he and his Muslim companions also practiced temporary marriage or as it is called “Seegheh”. “Seegheh” or “Sigha” is actually an Arabic word, not Persian. This is separate to having 4 wives at the same time i.e. polygamy. Temporary marriage or “seegheh” is having “concubines” in Western terms.
During Shah’s era, “polygamy” and “Seegheh” practices were modified and intended to be completely banned as they should be. However, at the time, there was significant opposition from the Muslim clergy regarding the ban [both for seegheh and polygamy practices] in Iran. The Muslim clerics in Iran have always been extremely influential and actively tried to enforce and embed the Islamic 7th century laws in Iran, hence, indoctrinated the mass population over the ensuing centuries in Iran. When the late Shah and his father “Reza Shah Pahlavi” tried to diminish the cleric influence in Iran, the clerics resented the intervention.
To this date, most, if not all, the ruling clerics despise the Pahlavi Dynasty, mainly because the Pahlavis tried to reduce the power & influence of the clerics. With the rise of Mullahs to power in 1979, many if not all backward and 7th century Islamic laws have been imposed in Iran again and in full force. The idea or practice of polygamy or “Seegheh” does not exist in traditional and pre Islamic Iranian/Persian culture; it was brought to Iran by Muslim Arabs.
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran’s interior minister faced criticism from women activists on Saturday after advocating the practice of temporary marriage as a way to meet the needs of young people in the Islamic state, which bans extramarital sex (but finds it acceptable to have sex trade, slavery & prostitution) !!
“Is it possible that Islam is indifferent to a 15-year-old youth into whom God has put lust?” newspapers quoted Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi, who is also a cleric, as telling a religious seminar this week.
Temporary marriage, or sigha, is an agreement between a man and a women to get married for a specified time, even for just a few days.
It has long been practised by Shi’ite Muslims, who are dominant in Iran, even though it is unclear how common it is.
Sunni Muslims say it is illegal and akin to prostitution, but some Shi’ites scholars say it reflects the reality of human nature and provides for the rights and responsibilities of both the man and the woman.
Although temporary marriage has always existed in our law [since Islamic invasion of Iran by Arabs in the 7th century CE], it is considered improper by Iranian culture,” Shadi Sadr, an Iranian activist for women rights, told the ISNA news agency.
Pourmohammadi spoke on Thursday in Qom (read more about Qom & the Mullahs’ desire to view porn on the web), Iran’s religious centre, and his comments were carried mainly by reformist dailies on Saturday. They also published reaction, mostly from opponents of the practice but also from some clerical backers.
“Islam is a comprehensive and complete religion and has a solution for every behaviour and need and temporary marriage is one of its solutions for the needs of the youth,” Pourmohammadi said according to the Sharq daily: “For fulfilling the sexual desires of the youth who do not have the possibility to get married a decision should be taken.”
FINANCIAL NEEDS
A temporary marriage is easy to arrange. A couple will agree on how long they will get married — it’s usually anywhere from a day to months — and on financial matters. Couples often go to a Shi’ite cleric for approval of the contract.
“A great number of women who agree to have temporary marriage do it because of their problems and financial need,” another women activist, Fatemeh Sadeghi, told ISNA. The Ham Mihan daily quoted a receptionist at a hotel in Tehran as saying it accepted couples with documents showing they were temporarily married and that it had about 100 such guests per week. “Our clients are young men with older women,” he said.
Both Sunni and Shi’ite scholars agree that the Prophet Mohammad did at certain times allow it. But Sunni scholars say the Prophet later banned it. Most Shi’ites say he didn’t. “In this kind of marriage there is no force, therefore we can not say it is violating women’s rights,” one Iranian cleric, Hojjatoleslam Ahmad Ghabel, told Sharq.
But a female former parliamentary deputy, Fatemeh Rakei, suggested that entering into a temporary marriage made it difficult for young women to later find permanent husbands and also expressed concern about the future of children from such marriages.
“Have those who discuss such issues thought about the children of these marriages and their fate?” she asked.
UPDATED - October 26, 2007 (regarding Khomeini’s book) — Who but a disgusting, brain dead Mullah would introduce such a practice? Did you know that Khomeini even wrote a book which has a chapter on sex with animals? That is right, ANIMALS! (photo of the book above). The name of the book is Tahrir-ul-Vaseela, 4th edition - Imam Khomeini. Here is more insight into the perverted mind of Khomeini and his teachings - Ayatollah Khomeini’s Religious Teachings on Marriage, Divorce and Relationships
See the comment section for additional information and links.
“Temporary Marriage”, IMO, is akin to prostitution. The main difference is that under Sharia (Islamic Law in Iran) it has become “legalized prostitution”.
Of course one can argue that similar to prostitution, temporary marriage is not “directly” forced but indirectly it is for two reasons that I can think of at present. 1) by legalizing it under sharia law, it actually encourages people to practice it and often abuse it. 2) as the article mentions, women often do it in Iran due to economic hardship. Many women who are even married practice it because of financial problems and feeding their children and family, especially when their husbands are opium or drug addicts and cannot support the family.
N.B. - Iran under ruling mullahs has high percentage of both prostitution and drug addiction. Legalizing temporary marriage actually endorses & reinforces prostitution; Iran has a high percentage of prostitution using temporary marriage as a cover.
Temp Marriage is a bandaid approach for bigger problems, stemming from high percentage of drug addiction, atrocious economy, homeless or runaway children, and so forth, which should be addressed through providing safety nets especially for women (and the people in general in Iran) both financially and morally. Otherwise, they will be FORCED into temporary marriage. It often makes women dependent directly on men who can in turn potentially abuse them because of the women’s need.
The idiot mullahs need to understand that what worked in the 7th century for Mohammad is not appropriate in the 21st century. Obviously they don’t believe in evolution.
Before I reached the end of your piece
“Temporary marriage” Idea Draws Female Fire in Iran I thought I could discuss with you Iran, Islam and what is wrong with Iran and in Iran. I agree temporary marriage is absuolutely wrong and unislamic.
When I read your claim that Khomenie has written a book on how to have sex with animals I felt sick. I think it is totally unfair and outrageous claim. It is what can be justly termed as a hit below the belt. Sorry but I cannot continue exchange of views with you.
Your expressed sickness at what you call “my unfair and outrageous claim” is of no concern to me. The point that such a book with mentioned content, written by Khomeini, exists is far more disturbing.
You need to read Khomeini’s book, and then have a scholarly discussion about your disgust with the Mullahs in Iran - in fact, they are the ones with whom you should be exchanging views regarding this matter, not me.
Here is a quote from the book and there is more in the book:
“Imam Khomeini - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution
On sex with Animals: “The meat of horses, mules, or donkeys is not recommended. It is strictly forbidden if the animal was sodomized while alive by a man. In that case, the animal must be taken outside the city and sold.”
Here is the name of the book:
“Tahrir-ul-Vaseela, 4th edition - Imam Khomeini”
Here are two links where you can see details of the book. The second link allows a download.
HERE
and HERE